Shadows Of The Past

Chapter 8: Silent Exclusions

After that day, I started to notice a shift in our group's dynamics. Luna, who had been my ally, was now slowly being excluded from the conversations between Taryn, Jessica, and Selie. They began to do the same thing to her that they had done to me—keeping her out of the loop and not sharing what they were talking about. Luna, however, didn't seem too bothered and rarely asked to be included.

I started sitting with Luna regularly, finding comfort in her quiet company. One day, I came into class and saw Luna entering. I called her over to sit with me. She was walking toward me when Taryn intercepted her.

"No, today Luna will sit with me," Taryn said in a childish, whiny tone. It struck me as odd. They weren't that close, and Taryn had been excluding Luna from their conversations.

I didn't want to argue, so I decided to sit alone. The next day, I made sure to sit with Luna again. The pattern continued, but I could feel the tension growing. I couldn't help but wonder why Taryn was acting this way. What was her endgame? Despite everything, I was determined not to let her behavior ruin my friendships with Luna or anyone else.

I was talking to Luna about the old days, reminiscing about our mutual classmate and friend, Amy. Luna's eyes lit up when she mentioned, "Amy was my best friend."

I was surprised and said, "Wow, that's great!"

But then Luna's expression changed. "Amy isn't my best friend anymore," she said, and I was taken aback.

"Why? Did you guys fight or something?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Luna sighed, "What kind of best friend doesn't text you, call you, or talk to you for eight months?"

Her words hit me hard. I understood Luna's feelings all too well. I had a similar situation with Dyla. Dyla had stopped talking to me or responding to my calls. We barely communicated, and that's why I didn't consider her my best friend anymore. But Dyla wasn't ready to accept it.

I nodded, feeling a deep connection with Luna's experience. "I know what you mean," I said softly.

After a moment, Luna broke the silence. "So, what about you? Do you have a best friend?"

I hesitated for a second but then replied, "Yeah, remember Dyla? She used to be our classmate back in the day."

Luna's eyes brightened with recognition. "Yeah, I remember her. Dyla is a nice girl."

I smiled and nodded, but I didn't tell Luna about the situation between Dyla and me. Some things were better left unsaid.

The next day, we were all sitting together—Taryn, Jessica, Luna, Selie, and me. I liked it when we sat like this, with no secrets or whispering. It felt nice and genuine.

As we chatted, the topic of story writing came up. Jessica turned to me with a spark in her eyes. "Zara, you should try writing a story!"

I hesitated. "I mean, yeah, I could, but should I?"

Jessica's excitement was contagious. "Yeah, why not? We'll all love to read it."

I had always wanted to write a story but never gave it much thought. Jessica's encouragement lit a fire within me. I decided to go for it.

That evening, I took some pages and started writing. At first, the words came slowly, but soon they flowed more freely. The story began to take shape, and I felt a sense of purpose and creativity I hadn't felt in a long time.

I finished writing the first chapter of my story. It took me a lot of time to think about the title and the chapter names, but in the end, everything fell into place. I felt a sense of accomplishment and a bit of nervous excitement as I prepared to share it with my friends.

The next day, I brought my story to school. During lunch, I handed the pages to Taryn, Jessica, Luna, and Selie. They gathered around, eagerly reading my words. I watched their faces for any sign of reaction, my heart pounding in my chest.

When they finished, they looked up at me in awe. Jessica was the first to speak. "Zara, this is amazing! You have a real talent for writing."

Taryn nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I was totally hooked. I can't wait to read more."

Selie and Luna chimed in with their praise, and I felt a warmth spread through me. They liked it. They really liked it.

Their encouragement meant the world to me. It was the first step in a new journey, and I felt more motivated than ever to continue writing. The support of my friends gave me the confidence to pursue my passion, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly excited about what the future might hold.

(To be continued 🌸)

(Stay tuned for more updates on every Sunday 🪻)

(Make sure to vote and comment your thoughts 🌸✨)